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Colbert & Co. understand that one Defensive End is not enough, and took full advantage in the 1st Round of the Draft in 2011 and selected Cameron Heyward to be the other 5-Technique of the future. Heyward looked much further ahead in his understanding of the 3-4 Defense and his effectiveness at the 5-Technique position than Ziggy Hood during his Rookie season, and big things will be expected from Cameron as he assumes the top backup spot in Pittsburgh?s Defensive End rotation. Even though Heyward?s statistical contributions were not overly huge (15 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1.0 Sack) in 2011, he played extremely well for a guy that had almost no offseason to acclimate himself to the team and the position. Effective play from Cameron will be of the utmost importance in 2012 however. Keeping Keisel and Hood fresh will benefit the entire Defensive Line, and the more reps Heyward can get the better it will be for Pittsburgh on the Defensive side of the ball.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward feels more confident entering his second season with the Steelers, in part, because he?s had offseason practices and minicamp to prepare.

A year ago, the NFL lockout slowed his progressed.

?When you can slow it down, you?re going to have much more success,? said Heyward, a first-round selection in 2011. ?I?ve been able to focus on my keys and execute.?

Heyward has higher expectations for himself this season.

?If there?s pressure, there?s pressure. I?m just going to do my job,? he said. ?I don?t have to be an all-star. If I?m opening the gap for somebody else ? it may not show up in the stats ? then we?re winning. I just want to be a part of the mix, so I just have to execute.?

Steelers.com brings you the Ask the Steelers feature. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.

Defensive End Cameron Heyward

Stephen Mihalov, Orlando, Florida: The Steelers focused on the offensive line for some of the draft, rather than the defensive line except for Alameda Ta?amu. How do you feel about that and does that give you the sense that they have confidence in you and the others on the defensive line?
Heyward: I think we had a lot of other needs to address. I am excited about this year. We have a very good defensive line, a lot of leadership and experience, but a lot of younger guys that are capable of making plays as well.

Debbie Morgan, Sarasota, Florida: How have you grown since your rookie year as far as your play?
Heyward: My knowledge of the game has expanded a lot. I think Coach (John) Mitchell does an awesome job teaching us, not just talking to us. I think I have gotten stronger, faster. I am excited about this year.

Mike Mazanowski. Leetonia, Ohio: You played football with Mike Adams and Troy Smith at Ohio State. Were you excited to see these guys join the roster?
Heyward: Of course. When you have some more Buckeyes and that is awesome. Me, Coach (Dick) LeBeau and Will Allen are just salivating having more Buckeyes on the team.

John Quinn, New York, New York: Did the team look for your input before drafting Mike Adams due to you guys being teammates and lining up against each other in practice?
Heyward: No. Mike deserves this opportunity and is going to make the most of it. I am happy he is here.

Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward vie for Steelers roles
By Brian McIntyre
Around the League writer
Published: July 26, 2012

Training camp finally is here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason.

No. 6: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end

With the Steelers moving on from Aaron Smith this offseason, recent first-round draft picks Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward are expected to compete for the starting job opposite longtime veteran Brett Keisel.

Hood, who arrived on the scene in 2009, played sparingly (22.12 percent of 1,008 defensive snaps, according to official playing-time documents) in 16 games as a rookie before starting 23 of 32 games over the past two seasons. Wood played in over 63 percent of the snaps in 2010, and he eclipsed 80 percent last season. Defensive ends in Pittsburgh tend to not produce much in terms of statistics -- that's what those linebackers are for -- but Hood has posted a respectable 51 tackles and 4.5 sacks during that stretch.

Knowing that Keisel's time in the NFL was not nearly as long as his beard, the Steelers used the No. 31 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft on Heyward, a 6-foot-5, 294-pounder from Ohio State. Heyward got the typical Steelers rookie redshirt, dressing for all 16 games and picking up 11 tackles and a sack while playing in 19.42 percent of the defensive snaps. Heyward was on the field for nearly 42 percent of the Steelers' special teams snaps and blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt in a 35-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13.

Projected Winner(s): Hood has done an OK job as an injury replacement for Smith, and with all the turnover on defense it would not be a surprise to see the Steelers keep Hood in the starting lineup and rotating Heyward off the bench. That said, Keisel turns 34 in September and has not played a full season since 2007, so Heyward is to make likely his first NFL start at some point this season.

Cameron Heyward prepped to take next step for Steelers
By Chris Adamski | CBSSports.com
August 5, 2012

Cameron Heyward's father, the late former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, used to appear in soap commercials. Now, it's the younger Heyward who is beginning to feel a lot more comfortable in his own skin.

A week and a half into his second NFL training camp with the Steelers, Cameron Heyward is one of the players who consistently stands out during practices at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. The defensive lineman was chosen in the first round of the draft last season.

"He's going to be a great one," offensive guard Ramon Foster said. "You see it every day in practice."

At 6-5, 288 pounds and with an Ohio State pedigree, Heyward is being groomed by the Steelers to evolve into a disruptive force along the defensive line. The pressing question is, when?

Linemen typically need a year or two to learn defensive coordinator's Dick LeBeau's system. It's not as simple as merely turning loose, using instinct and getting after the quarterback, as perhaps some 4-3 ends can do once they arrive in the NFL. Steelers ends, in layman's terms, are more there just to eat up blockers and take up space.

It was obvious as last season went on that Heyward was settling more into his role, and his snaps increased later in the campaign.

That development is continuing this preseason.

"I just feel more comfortable with what I'm doing and more comfortable in my technique," Heyward said. "I know what to expect."

Cameron Heyward and Mike Adams Cameron Heyward and Mike Adams Former Buckeyes are now members of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watch video

LATROBE, Pa. --- The Ohio State T-shirt worn by second-year player Cameron Heyward and rookie Mike Adams during their break in training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers is an example of their devotion.

Despite a change in location to continue their careers in professional football, Heyward's and Adams' hearts remain in Ohio with their beloved Buckeyes.

But for many Cleveland Browns fans, that doesn't count anymore.

"I know it doesn't," said a smiling Heyward, a former OSU defensive end now with the Steelers. "But I hope many of those fans remain my fan although I play for the Steelers. Probably not, but I'm still a Buckeye."

Cameron Heyward and the rest of the 2011 rookie class had the misfortune of being caught in the middle of the NFL labor dispute a year ago. The lack of a collective bargaining agreement meant that Heyward and other rookies could not benefit from participation in offseason training activities or a full-length training camp.

A young player learning a complicated defense, Heyward, a 6-foot-5, 288-pound defensive end from Ohio State, never did feel completely comfortable playing in Dick LeBeau's defense last season.

"It takes time," said Heyward, who was the 31st overall selection in the 2011 draft. "It's different for everyone, but this defense is a little bit complicated and you just have to study."

In his second training camp, Heyward has a better comfort level, and he is hoping that will translate into a more productive season. He played in a reserve role a year ago and recorded nine tackles and a sack in the regular season. When starting right end Brett Keisel went down with an injury in a playoff game at Denver, Heyward played more and had three tackles in a 29-23 overtime loss.

"Everything was a whirlwind last year," he said. "I wouldn't change it. I just feel more comfortable with the playbook this year. Having a true offseason with OTAs, I know why I am doing something as opposed to knowing I have to do something. Overall, I feel healthier and stronger than last year."

There was some speculation before training camp began that Heyward would push Ziggy Hood for the starting job at left defensive end, but Heyward has worked almost exclusively behind Keisel at right end through the first three weeks of training camp.

"I wasn't even thinking in that regard," Heyward said. "I can't look at it as a numbers game or where I am on the depth chart. My main thing is I have to worry about doing my technique right. Hopefully, the coaches have confidence in me to go out there."

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